Intensification of Decadal Variability in Sea Surface Salinity in the Western Tropical Pacific
Abstract The decadal variability of sea surface salinity (SSS) is crucial for the global water cycle and the climate system. Previous studies have indicated that the SSS in the western tropical Pacific (WTP) Ocean exhibits significant decadal variability, which plays an important role in shaping tro...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL113453 |
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| author | Yue Wu Guanghui Zhou Shijian Hu |
| author_facet | Yue Wu Guanghui Zhou Shijian Hu |
| author_sort | Yue Wu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The decadal variability of sea surface salinity (SSS) is crucial for the global water cycle and the climate system. Previous studies have indicated that the SSS in the western tropical Pacific (WTP) Ocean exhibits significant decadal variability, which plays an important role in shaping tropical climate. Here we find that the amplitude of SSS decadal variability in the WTP has been intensified significantly since the early 1950s. A comprehensive analysis of the salinity budget indicates that the amplifying of SSS decadal variability in the WTP is primarily attributed to changes in both the freshwater flux and ocean dynamics. During the past decades, surface currents in the WTP get stronger and result in enhanced salinity advection. In addition, the amplitude of decadal variability of freshwater flux is increased as well due to anomalous atmospheric circulation associated with the Victoria mode. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e8f4d2038590442195056b56f73c5ddf |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-e8f4d2038590442195056b56f73c5ddf2025-08-20T02:57:17ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072025-03-01525n/an/a10.1029/2024GL113453Intensification of Decadal Variability in Sea Surface Salinity in the Western Tropical PacificYue Wu0Guanghui Zhou1Shijian Hu2Key Laboratory of Ocean Observation and Forecasting Key Laboratory of Ocean Circulation and Waves Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences Qingdao ChinaKey Laboratory of Ocean Observation and Forecasting Key Laboratory of Ocean Circulation and Waves Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences Qingdao ChinaKey Laboratory of Ocean Observation and Forecasting Key Laboratory of Ocean Circulation and Waves Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences Qingdao ChinaAbstract The decadal variability of sea surface salinity (SSS) is crucial for the global water cycle and the climate system. Previous studies have indicated that the SSS in the western tropical Pacific (WTP) Ocean exhibits significant decadal variability, which plays an important role in shaping tropical climate. Here we find that the amplitude of SSS decadal variability in the WTP has been intensified significantly since the early 1950s. A comprehensive analysis of the salinity budget indicates that the amplifying of SSS decadal variability in the WTP is primarily attributed to changes in both the freshwater flux and ocean dynamics. During the past decades, surface currents in the WTP get stronger and result in enhanced salinity advection. In addition, the amplitude of decadal variability of freshwater flux is increased as well due to anomalous atmospheric circulation associated with the Victoria mode.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL113453sea surface salinitywestern tropical Pacificdecadal variabilityVictoria modeglobal warming |
| spellingShingle | Yue Wu Guanghui Zhou Shijian Hu Intensification of Decadal Variability in Sea Surface Salinity in the Western Tropical Pacific Geophysical Research Letters sea surface salinity western tropical Pacific decadal variability Victoria mode global warming |
| title | Intensification of Decadal Variability in Sea Surface Salinity in the Western Tropical Pacific |
| title_full | Intensification of Decadal Variability in Sea Surface Salinity in the Western Tropical Pacific |
| title_fullStr | Intensification of Decadal Variability in Sea Surface Salinity in the Western Tropical Pacific |
| title_full_unstemmed | Intensification of Decadal Variability in Sea Surface Salinity in the Western Tropical Pacific |
| title_short | Intensification of Decadal Variability in Sea Surface Salinity in the Western Tropical Pacific |
| title_sort | intensification of decadal variability in sea surface salinity in the western tropical pacific |
| topic | sea surface salinity western tropical Pacific decadal variability Victoria mode global warming |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL113453 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yuewu intensificationofdecadalvariabilityinseasurfacesalinityinthewesterntropicalpacific AT guanghuizhou intensificationofdecadalvariabilityinseasurfacesalinityinthewesterntropicalpacific AT shijianhu intensificationofdecadalvariabilityinseasurfacesalinityinthewesterntropicalpacific |